The Amity Weekly Minute: February 8, 2026
What's New?
From the Desk of Mrs. Warman
Dear Amity Families,
As we continue through 2026, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership and flexibility as we navigate the cold temperatures and snowy days together.
This is also a friendly reminder that this Thursday, February 12th, is Amity’s STEAM Night! We hope you can join us for an evening of hands-on learning and fun. Families will have the opportunity to visit each grade level and participate in engaging STEAM activities. The event will begin at 6:00 PM and conclude at 7:00 PM with a special music performance by our 5th grade students in the Amity gym. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!
This week in learning, Mrs. Sippola’s 5th grade scientists have been busy investigating sound energy. Students explored how sound moves by using tuning forks and observing how vibrations interact with water, rice, and even a ping pong ball. They discovered that when it comes to sound, the magic word is vibrations! The students did a fantastic job and now have a stronger understanding of how sound energy can move objects in exciting and visible ways.
Thank you, as always, for your collaboration and support. Wishing you a great week ahead!
Warmly,
Laura Warman
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Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
This is the Amity Weekly Photo Gallery
Full Gallery
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A Kids Heart Challenge update from Mrs. Fowler
You all have done an amazing job both in and out of PE this week as we kicked off our Kids Heart Challenge! So far, 70 students have registered, and we are just 4 families away from reaching our 18-family goal to complete Finn’s Mission. We are also more than halfway to our school fundraising goal of $5,500 with $3,997.22 raised!
If we reach our school goal, a few brave staff members will be getting pied!
If your child has not yet registered for the Kid's Heart Challenge, there is still time! Please visit the link below! Every cent matters to help raise awareness and fund medical treatments for heart disease, heart attacks and strokes!
CLICK HERE!
Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Keep up the fantastic work!
With Kindness and Passion,
Mrs. Fowler
Amity PE Teacher
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Candy Grams Final Call
The Amity Youth Service Club is selling Candy Grams! Candy Grams are $0.50, and all of the proceeds will benefit the American Heart Association.
1 candy gram = $0.50
Candy Grams are slips of paper that students can send to other classmates either within their grade or another grade level. Each candy gram will have a lollipop/sucker attached to it. The students will have their “Candy Grams” delivered on Valentines Day!
If your child would like to purchase a Candy Gram please send the money in an envelope marked “Candy Gram”.
Please include the name/grade/homeroom of who your child would like to send the Candy Gram to so we can help them write it. This is very important to ensure the candy gram gets delivered to the correct person.
The sale will begin on Friday January 23rd and run until Tuesday, February 10th, 2026.
If you have any questions, please email me (Ms. Hopper) hopper.j@dpccsd.org or Miss Schroer (schroer.j@dpccsd.org)
Thanks for supporting the Youth Service Club and American Heart Association!
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The Future Ready Expo will take place on Thursday, February 26, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at Deer Park Jr./Sr. High School during Parent-Teacher Conferences. Open to students in grades 5–11 and their families, the Expo offers an opportunity to explore different pathways after high school and begin thinking about future goals. More information, including session and booth details, will be shared soon.
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Kindergarten Registration for 2026-2027 is Now Open!
It's that time again. Kindergarten Registration is officially open for the 2026-27 school year!
In an effort to make this process as easy as possible, we have created a page on our website to walk you step-by-step through registration. This page will serve as your guide for registration.
As a reminder, the Deer Park Board Policy on registering for Kindergarte
If you ever have any issues, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at hollander.b@dpccsd.org or d
Visit the Registration Page
Important Dates to Know:
Kindergarten Information Night
Amity Elementary will host a Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. This evening will give families the opportunity to hear directly from our kindergarten teachers, review expectations, and learn more about activities planned for the upcoming school year.
In-Person Kindergarten Registration Days
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Monday, March 16, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Kindergarten Screeners
All screeners will be held at Amity Elementary on the following dates:
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Monday, May 4, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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Amity Library Night Tuesday February 24th
Our annual Title One Library night is Tuesday, February 24th. Our theme will be a wild animal theme "WILD ABOUT READING!" The event will be at the Dillonvale Public Library from 5:00-6:00. The students can enjoy wild animal themed stations, a library scavenger hunt, and take home their own bag of ingredients to make hot cocoa. They can also get a library card and learn about fun events the library hosts. We will have a school-wide spirit day at school on February 24th, so wear your favorite animal print or animal related clothing. We hope to see you there!
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Amity STEAM Night – Thursday, February 12, 2026
All Amity families are invited to join us for our annual STEAM Night on Thursday, February 12th, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. Families will have the opportunity to explore a variety of hands-on STEAM activities throughout the building.At 7:00 p.m., we will move to the gym where our 5th-grade students will begin their concert for everyone to enjoy. We look forward to seeing our families come out for an evening of learning, creativity, and community at Amity!
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Amity Yearbooks available for order
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2026 Deer Park Youth Baseball & Softball Sign Ups
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DPSL 2026 Spring Soccer Registration
Registration for Deer Park Sycamore Soccer League Spring 2026 season is now open! Be sure to secure your spot before the February 14th deadline. Click the link below to register and join the excitement! Don't wait—register today!
Sign Up Today!
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Update Final Forms
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School Closing Information Reminder
As we enter a season of unpredictable weather, we want to ensure all families are prepared in the event of a school closing or delay. Deer Park Schools will share any schedule changes through multiple communication channels, including:
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Text and phone call alerts
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Email notifications
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The district website
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Local news stations
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District social media accounts
Please take a moment to verify your contact information is up to date on FinalForms and make sure you are connected to the platforms that work best for your family. With potentially hazardous weather in the forecast over the coming weeks, staying informed will help ensure everyone remains safe and prepared.
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February Lunch Menu
Due to supply issues, lunch menu options change frequently based on availability. The most up-to-date menu is below, however, please continue to check the Deer Park Food Services website for the latest information.
Visit the Website
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Looking Ahead
Please mark these important dates on your calendar:
- Board of Education Work Session: Tuesday, February 10 | 4:30 p.m.
- Amity STEAM Night: Thursday, February 12 | 6 p.m.
- Board of Education Regular Meeting: Tuesday, February 17 | 4:30 p.m.
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No School – Presidents Day
There will be no school for students on Monday, February 16th, in observance of Presidents Day.
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February Conferences Feb. 26th & 27th
Conferences will take place on Thursday, February 26th and Friday, February 27th. There will be no school for students on both of these days. Conference sign-ups will be shared in the Sunday, February 15th Amity Minute, so please be on the lookout for more information.
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In Case You Missed It
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Breakthrough Cincinnati: Academic Enrichment Program
Breakthrough Cincinnati (BTC) is a four-year, tuition-free academic enrichment program designed to energize students to enter college with confidence.
What can families expect?
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A four-year program beginning the summer before 6th grade, but students can apply entering any grade between entering 6th graders and entering 9th grade
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Tuition-free academic-focused summer and school year programs, including meals, field trips, and supplies.
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Year-round support including monthly college and career enrichment, weekly tutoring, and continued college-focused support throughout high school.
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Mentoring from college-aged role models (Teaching Fellows) and a network of like-minded peers.
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Summer Program Dates: June 29, 2026–July 31, 2026 (excludes July 3). A typical day runs from 9 AM to 4 PM. Transportation to and from the program is included.
- Who does BTC prioritize? BTC prioritizes students who are:
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First Generation College Students
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From Single Parent Households
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Low Income
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Students currently in 5th or 6th grade who aspire to attend college are prioritized to apply, and students currently in 7th and 8th grade may also apply. There is a request to continue the program through its entirety for 4 years if you begin in grade 6.
To Apply: Visit breakthroughcincinnati.org.
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Student Safety Reminder
As we move into the winter months and the mornings become darker, we want to remind everyone to be extra cautious during arrival and dismissal times. Please be mindful of our students walking to and from school and drive slowly when entering or exiting the Amity parking lot. Just a reminder that the main driveway entrance off of Galbraith becomes a Do Not Enter zone after 7:30 AM. This helps ensure the safety of students and staff in that area. Thank you for your continued attention to keeping all of our Wildcats safe!
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Recess During Cold Weather
With a return to colder temperatures, please remember to send your child to school with appropriate outdoor attire for recess. We will be going outside whenever the “feels like” temperature is 25 degrees or above. This gives our students time to burn some energy while getting some fresh air. Our recesses are 20-30 minutes so it is important that our students be comfortable while they are outside.
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Sick Guidelines Reminder
Cold and flu season is here! Please review our Sick Guidelines to know when your child should stay home—especially for symptoms like fever, vomiting/diarrhea, flu/COVID-like illness, strep throat, pinkeye, and other contagious conditions. If a student becomes ill at school, families will be asked to pick them up.
Thank you for helping keep our classrooms healthy and ready for learning!
Click the link below to view the full Sick Guidelines document.
View Here
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Deer Park School Lunch
Reminder each school year families have to reapply for Free and Reduced Lunch. There are applications in the front office at Amity. Please reach out to Diane Daily with any questions 513-936-6275.
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Amity Elementary Community Resources
Click Here
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FinalForms
We will continue to utilize FinalForms in an effort to help simplify your life! Please login to FinalForms at https://deerpark-oh.finalforms.com to update any new information or to confirm that there are no changes for the 2025-26 school year. If you do not have a home computer, please use one of Amity’s computers during the Meet and Greet located in the PDC or visit the local library where computers are available for public use.
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Schoology
The Schoology Learning Management System offers a tremendous amount of information in a user friendly version. You will be able to communicate with your child’s teachers, check homework and grades, and find teacher resources through teacher Schoology pages.
Schoology Link
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2025-26 PDF District Calendar
Each year, the Deer Park Board of Education approves the district's yearly calendar, which can be found on the Deer Park Schools website. This calendar includes official school dates, holidays, and breaks. Additionally, a printed event calendar will be sent home with your student during the first week of school. For your convenience, you can access the PDF calendar using the link provided below.
View the Calendar
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Staying Connected
There are multiple ways to stay connected to Amity Elementary School.
- Email Newsletter: All parents who have completed FinalForms should receive Amity Weekly Newsletters. If you are not currently receiving them, please register for the email communication. To register, simply go to www.deerparkcityschools.org and click on the button on the bottom of the page that says “Subscribe to District News”. From there, you will send an email requesting that you be added to future email communication from the district.
- X: Follow Deer Park Schools for the most up-to-date news and happenings at @DeerParkSchools or @DeerParkAmity
- Facebook: follow us at Deer Park Community City Schools.
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Inspiring & Empowering Lifelong Success
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